Bedspring or the like



Jan. 19, 1943, R. R. LEVEN I BBD SPRING on Tm; LIKE Filed OCT'. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Shea?l l Jan. 19, 1943 R. LEVEN A 2,308,614

lBED SPRING' OR'THE LIKE Filed-Oct. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Y I www mul Patented Jan. 19, 1943 BEDSPRING OR THE LIKE Richard R. Leven, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Handy Bed Company, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 25, 1939, Serial No. 301,184

4 Claims.

The invention relates to bed springs or the like and has as its general aim the provision ofy a new and improved spring of simple, inexpensive construction embodying features by which a sturdy, light-weight spring is achieved.

Another object is to provide a spring construction having a novel top frame member of suicient width to replace the outer row of coil springs and the parts associated therewith thereby materially lessening the weight of the assembly while affording improved marginal sup-port for a superimposed mattress.

In conjunction with the foregoing, another object is to provide a novel frame which includes integral means for efficiently securing parts of the spring system thereto.

Another object is to provide a novel construction for stabilizing the spring structure longitudinally and transversely.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a bed spring construction embodying the features of the invention,

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively side and end views thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a corner section oi the bed spring, taken as indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig, 2.

Figs, 5 and 6 are sectional views on an enlarged scale and are taken respectively along the lines 5--5 and 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a detail of a corner and is taken along the lines l--l of Fig. 6.

In the exemplary form of the invention herein illustrated, the numeral Ill designates generally a bottom or base frame structure which may be of any suitable form. As shown, the base frame includes a rectangularly shaped border or marginal member fashioned of angle sections arranged with the channel or angle facing downwardly and outwardly. Extending transversely between the sides of the marginal member and secured thereto are longitudinally spaced cross rails II upon each of which rests a series of coil springs I2. The springs are -secured in place by such means as a system of bottom and intermediate tie wires I3, and, as shown, are preferably alined in longitudinal rows.

An upper or top frame member, generally indicated at I 4, is disposed in superimposed relation to the base frame. The structure of the upper frame and its relation to the adjoining row of coil wire,

Vquiring ninety-nine coil springs.

springs embody a number of important features. The upper frame may be fashioned of sheet metal and in its preferred form has an angular cross section providing a relatively narrow downwardly extending side leg I6 (Figs. 4 to 6) and a horizontal inwardly extending top leg I5. In this instance, the frame is an assembly of side and end sections IT and I8, respectively, connected by relatively short arcuate corner sections IS. For decorative purposes the sections may be ribbed as shown or otherwise designed.

The top leg of the upper frame, in assembly, lies on the upper plane of the spring structure and its width is on the order of that of the average diameter of a coil spring. The width need not be exactly that of the average diameterbut is preferably ample to permit the upper frame to replace an cuter row of coil springs. In other words, the upper frame is of such width that a. substantially smaller number of springs may be used without functional impairment of the resilient support afforded by th'e spring as compared with an otherwise similar conventional spring structure using a narrow top frame or border For example, a wide upper frame structure having seventy coil springs is comparable to a conventional narrow upper frame structure re- As a result of such reduction in the number of springs, the weight of the spring is'greatly reduced, and the cost of manufacture is considerably lessened.

Each coil spring, which is next adjacent to the upper frame, is secured thereto. In this instance, the connection is established in a simple and inexpensive manner by forming a series of lugs 2!) along the inner margins of the side and end frame sections I1 and I8. These lugs are spaced according to the spacing of the coil springs in the adjoining row and each lug is adapted to be bent reversely about the wire forming an upper turn or convolution of a coil spring. This arrangement secures the outer row of coil springs firmly to the upper frame and avoids the use of rivets or like securing means.

The spring system is completedr by a plurality of resiliently tensioned cables 2l extending transversely and longitudinally of the upper frame between each row of coil springs and cross connected resiliently to the adjoining coil springs. Thus, each cable 2l has a small helical spring 22 connected to each end thereof. rIhe inner edges of the upper frame have ears 23 formed integrally therewith in transversely or longitudinally alined pairs, and each ear is apertured, as at 24, to receive an end of a helical spring. The

ears are spaced to locate the cables between the rows of coil springs. In the illustrated construction, the cables are arranged in sets of three and the ears are, therefore, accordingly arranged. The three ears could, if desired, be formed as parts of a single integral projection.

Where longitudinal and transverse cables cross between each square arrangement of four coil springs, a clip or the like is secured to all of the crossing strands. Other helical springs 26 extend diagonally from the clips to each of the adjoining coil springs.

An important feature resulting from the wide frame and coil spring assembly is the broad support afforded the marginal portions of a superimposed mattress. In a narrow frame structure the edge portions of a mattress fold into the spaces between the frame and the coil springs because the springs and the narrow frame aord only slight support along much of the marginal portion of the mattress. Such folding damages the mattress and shortens its life. The present wide frame construction eliminates this difficulty since the marginal portions of the mattress are adequately supported by the wide frame and cannot fold or slip into the spaces between the frame and the springs.

The present structure includes improved means for imparting stability longitudinally and transversely to the spring structure. of the four sides of the upper frame member has a stabilizer bar 21 (Figs. 2 and 3) secured thereto near the frame corners. As shown, each stabilizer bar includes end sections 28 which are connected, as at 29 (Fig. 4) to the upper frame, extend toward the base frame and are joined to central or intermediate bar sections 3] through reverse bends or gooseneck curves 3l. The stabilizer bars are so secured to the upper frame that the vertical planes thereof are located inside the inner margins of the base frame (see Fig. 7) The shape and dimensions of the bar sections are such that the central or intermediate sections extend between the upper and base frames for the major portion of their lengths, and the end sections including the curved portions 3| extend nearly to the base frame. Beyond the end sections of the bars, and in this instance located at the frame corners, the base frame has a bracket 32 secured thereto having an inwardly extending flange 33 providing an anchor for one end of a pair of heavy helical springs 34. The other ends of the springs are connected respectively to the adjacent end sections of the bars at a side and end of the frame. The arrangement is preferably such that the line of force exerted by the springs is on or slightly below the longitudinal line of the intermediate section. Each spring 34, therefore, pulls outwardly on its end of the stabilizer bar and the opposing forces balance and stabilize the spring structure.

If desired, additional transverse rigidity may be imparted to the top frame member by a transversely extending bar 35 (Figs. l, 4 and 5) of inverted V shaped cross section secured intermediateiy through its ends 3S to the side sections l1. The bar 35 is offset throughout the major portion of its length (as shown in Fig. 5) downwardly to approximately the horizontal plane of the intermediate sections 3! ot the stabilizer bars.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that an improved bed spring construction has been provided which embodies a novel arrangement of a To this end, each i Wide upper frame and the spring system associated therewith that affords improved support for a mattress, is of light weight, is inexpensive to manufacture, and includes improved means for stabilizing the structure.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bed spring construction, the combination of a bottom frame, a series of cooperatively related coil springs supported by said bottom frame, a wide sheet metal top frame disposed about said springs substantially on the upper plane thereof, means integral with the inner marginal portions of said top frame for securing thereto the outer side portions of the top convolutions of the springs adjoining said top frame, and cable assemblies connected to marginal portions of said top frame intermediate adjacent ones of the coil springs secured thereto, the width of said top frame and the relationship of the coil springs and cable assemblies connected therewith being such as to support the marginal portion of a superimposed mattress against folding into the space between the frame and springs.

2,. In a bed spring, the combination of a base frame, a plurality of coil springs mounted thereon, an upper frame extending about said springs and being fashioned of sheet metal, said upper frame having a width dimension approximately that of the average diameter of a coil spring, and integral lugs on the inner margin of said upper frame bent into securing engagement with the outer sides of the top turns of the springs next to said upper frame to locate and maintain the planes of the top convolutions of said springs substantially on the plane of said upper frame.

3. In a bed spring structure the combination of a bottom frame having a marginal frame member, a top frame including a marginal member having a width dimension approximately that of the mean width of a row of coil springs and extending inwardly of said bottom 'frame marginal member, a series of cooperatively related coil springs supported by said top and bottom frames within the space defined by said frames, and stabilizing means including elongated bars extending along opposite sides of the structure and having angular end portions, and means for securing said bars through said end portions to the opposite sides of the top frame marginal member, each bar being disposed wholly between the ends of one of said opposite sides of said top frame marginal member and inwardly of the vertical plane of the corresponding side of the bottom frame marginal member to space the intermediate portions of said bars adjacent to but inwardly of the inner edges of said sides of said bottom frame marginal member.

4. In a spring construction the combination of an open bottom frame including a marginal frame member, a top frame spaced above said bottom frame and including a wide marginal member having a width dimension greater than that of the corresponding bottom frame marginal member and projecting inwardly thereof, a series of coil springs supported by said frames. an elongated stabilizing bar having angular end portions secured intermediate the ends of said top frame marginal member to dispose the intermediate portion of said bar adjacent to but entirely inwardly of said bottom frame marginal member, and spring means connected to the bottom frame and to said bar near each end portion thereof,

RICHARD R, LEVEN. 

